Discharge conveyor for silo unloader



March 29, 1966 s. H. SIME DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR SILO UNLOADER 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Jan. 10, 1962 AT TORNEY March 29, 1966 s.H. SIME DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR SILO UNLOADER v 4 Sheets-$heet 2 OriginalFiled Jan. 10, 1962 FIG. 4

H QIH h" INVENTOR SYLVAN H. SIME BY JM. W

ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 s. H. SIME 3,243,058

DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR SILO UNLOADER Original Filed Jan. 10, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Ill IN V EN TOR.

FIG. 8

SYLVAN H. SIME W a W;

ATTORNEY March 29, 1966 s. H. SIME DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR SILO UNLOADER4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed Jan. 10, 1962 JNVENTOR. SYLVAN H.S|ME

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,243,058 DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR SILOUNLOADER Sylvan H. Sime, Kiester, Minn., assiguor to Deere 81 Company,Moline, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application Sept. 25, 1963, Ser.No. 311,465, now Patent No. 3,195,742, July 20, 1965, which is adivision of application Ser. No. 165,394, Jan. 10, 1962, now Patent No.3,144,144, dated Aug. 11, 1964. Divided and this application May 18,1965, Ser. No. 456,633 3 Claims. (Cl. 214-17).

This application is a division of U.S. patent application for a SiloUnloader, Ser. No. 311,465, filed September 25, 1963, now Patent No.3,195,742, which in turn is a division of U.S. patent application for aSilo Unloader, Ser. No. 165,394 and filed January 10, 1962, the latterhaving issued as U.S. Patent 3,144,144.

This invention relates to a material unloader for use in a silo. Stillmore particularly it relates to a type of silo or material unloaderwhich moves on the surface of the silage and effects discharge of theupper layer of the silage through an opening in the silo Wall.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a new and novelmaterial discharge conveyor used in conjunction with, for example, asilo unloader. The conveyor is composed of an anger and an upwardlyopening auger trough. The trough has a first uprightly disposed sideclosely adjacent the auger and on the downwardly moving side of theauger. The trough further has a second uprightly disposed side on theopposite side of the auger and spaced'from the auger to define with theauger a material moving area. In operating in silage or similar materialthere is an interlacing of the material and consequently an areaalongside the auger in which part of the silage may move does in effectincrease the capacity of the conveyor and does eliminate much of theclogging that often otherwise occurs between the trough side and thedownwardly moving side of the auger.

The present silo unloader has at the center of the silo an invertedcup-like element with an impeller therein. Directly and closely adjacentthe lower edge of the inverted cup is provided a radial sweep augerwhich extends from the center of the silo toward the wall of the siloand moves material inwardly to an area beneath the inverted cup orimpeller blades. The sweep auger includes a flight element which isdisposed normally outwardly of the inverted cup chamber and the flipperelement which is fixed to the auger driveshaft and is normally disposedinwardly of the chamber wall. Consequently the material is movedinwardly through operation of the auger flight until it reaches theradial flipper on the auger driveshaft which Will cause the material tobe flipped upwardly into the path of the impeller blade. Fixed to theside of the cup chamber is an auger which receives the material from theimpeller and feeds the material outwardly through the discharge openingin the silo wall.

In one form of the invention, it is proposed to provide the sweep augerstructure with two distinct sections, one being a relatively shortsection which is disposed adjacent the wall and the other being arelatively long section which extends from an area spaced from the wallinwardly to the center of the silo. The outer auger section willnormally move in advance of the inner section and will cut an annulartrough in the surface of the silo. The inner auger section has a guidewheel on its outer end which will normally ride in the annular troughcut by the outer section and consequently the depth of cut of the innersection will be determined by the depth of the annular trough created bythe outer auger section. In this form of the invention it is furtherproposed to provide the unique manner of controlling the depth of cut ofthe outer auger section so that the silage in the "ice silo will have anupper surface which is generally both horizontal and level.

In a modified form of the invention it is specifically provided for asingle sweep auger to extend substantially the radius of the silo and aunique manner of maintaining the surface of the silage level as well asmaintaining the surface substantially horizontal.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood from the following description and as shown in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a silo with the silo unloader positionedtherein.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG.1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 55 of FIG.1.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a silo and a modified form of the silounloader.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIG.7.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 ofFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1010 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 11-11 ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 12 is an exploded view of portions of the structure shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a portion of the central sectionof the silo unloader.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line1414 of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a different portion of the centralportion of the silo unloader.

FIG. 16 is still a further perspective view showing a different portionof the central portion of the silo unloader.

Referring now to the drawings, the silo unloader will normally bedisposed in a conventional silo having an upright cylindrical wall 10with a series of vertically aligned side openings 11 conventionallyclosed by doors, not shown, ,which may be removed for purposes ofdischarging silage from the silo. The silo unloader is normallysupported in the silo in pendulum fashion by a cable 12 depending from asupporting structure on the top of the silo. As is conventional, thecable may be retracted or extended by a winch, not shown, for purposesof raising and lowering the silo unloader.

The silo unloader is composed of a centrally located frame structure 15which includes an inverted cup-shaped impeller chamber or casing 16having a vertically disposed cylindrical casing wall 17 with a lowercircular edge 18 having the same diameter as the chamber walls 17. Thecasing 16 is closed at its upper surface by a horizontally disposedpanel wall 19. The casing 16 has therein and on one side thereof amaterial discharge opening at 20.

The main framework 15 carries thereon a vertically disposed driveshaft25 by means of upper and lower journals 26, 27 positioned above thecasing 16, the lower journal 27 being disposed directly on. the surfaceof the top panel 19. The shaft 25 extendsthrough the top wall 19 and hasa lower end 28 disposed beneath the chamber 16 and extending into a gearcasing 29. Fixed to the shaft 25 internally of the casing 16, and bymeans of a set screw 30, is impeller blades 31. The impeller blades 31extend laterally relative to the shaft 25 and have upper edges lyingclosely adjacent the top wall 19 and outer edges lying closely adjacentthe cylindrical wall 17. The lower edges of the impeller blades 31 aresubstantially coplanar with the lower edge 18 of the cylindrical wall17. Consequently the impeller blades 31 will move within the chamber 16so as to clear the entire chamber of material.

The main frame also has the motor supporting structure 35 as a partthereof supporting an electric motor 36 having a vertical shaft 37. Theshaft 37 is drivingly connected to the vertical shaft by means of achain drive indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 38.

A sweep mechanism, including a first or outer auger 4i and a second orinner auger 41, is disposed on the surface of the silage. The auger 40has an auger driveshaft 42 articulately connected by a universal typejoint 43 to the central portion of the silo unloader. In viewing FIG. 1,it becomes apparent that the auger flight 40 is disposed closelyproximate the wall 10 and operates to feed material centrally. The outerend of the shaft 42 rigidly carries a cutter 44 with a convex face plate45 which rotates freely on the shaft 42. The cutter cuts frozen or othertype of silage from the Wall 10 of the silo. In operation, the auger 40will sweep about the surface of the silage and cut an annular troughadjacent the wall 10.

The auger 41 is supported by an auger driveshaft 46, the inner end ofwhich is drivingly connected to the lower end 28 of the driveshaft 25 bymeans of bevel gears 47, 48. The bevel gears 47, 48 are disposed in anextension of the gear transmission housing 29. The articulate oruniversal joint 43 is driven by a short stub shaft 50 extending into thegear housing 29. The shaft 50 is drivingly connected to the lower end 28of the main shaft 25 by means of a bevel gear 51 and a countersha'ft 52carrying a pinion 53 of a reversing gear drive. The pinion 53 mesheswith a gear 54 carried on the shaft 50. Fixed to the main frame 25 is alaterally disposed arm 60 which extends outwardly toward the Wall 10 andslightly above the auger 41. The outer end of the arm 60 and the augershaft 46 are interconnected by a bracket 61 which in turn supports gagewheel 62. Also carried on the outer end of the arm 60 is bracketstructure 63 carrying a laterally disposed guide wheel 64, the lattermoving about a vertical axis.

Reviewing the sweep auger arrangement in its entirety, it becomesapparent that the auger 40 is disposed adjacent the wall 10 and operatesto sweep an annular path adjacent the wall 10 and to move silageinwardly. The gage wheel 62 will normally ride in this annular troughformed by the auger 40 and consequently will cause the auger 41 toconvey material inwardly toward the center of the silo. It thereforebecomes aparent that the depth of cut of the auger 40 determines theoverall depth of cut of the silage since the depth of cut of auger 41 isdependent upon the depth that the gage wheel 62 rides on the silage. Thewheel 64 is normally out of engagement of the wall 10. However, shouldabnormal conditions exist in one side of the silage or should for somereasons the pendulum or cable 12 cause the silo unloader to swing, thewheel 64 will engage the wheel for the purpose of buffering the auger 41and its gage wheel 62 against contact with the wall. Consequently thewheel 64 normally serves the purpose of limiting movement of the silounloader in respect to the wall of the silo.

The entire silo unloader is angularly driven about the silo by means ofdrive wheel means including a conventional type drive wheel 70, whichhas an inwardly directed drive wheel shaft 71, the inner end of which isconnected to a propeller shaft 72 by means of a universal or articulatejoint 73. The inner end of the propellent shaft 72 is drivinglyassociated with the lower end 28 of the vertical driveshaft 25 by meansof a universal or articulate joint 74 which connects the inner end ofthe shaft 72 to the outer end of the intermediate driveshaft 75 whichextends into the gear housing '29. The shaft 75 has a gear 76 mountedthereon which is driven by a worm gear 77 carried on an outer extensionof the auger driveshaft 46. The worm 77 of course operates as a speedreducer and consequently the drive wheel 70 will normally move at arelatively low speed over the surface of the silage. Also, the drivewheel 70 will normally move in the path of the annular trough formed bythe auger 40.

The drive wheel 70, auger 40, and auger 41 are all interconnected bymeans of laterally disposed structure composed of a diagonal laterallydisposed structural tube 80 pivoted at 81 about a horizontal axisparallel to the arm 60 and extending to a point closely adjacent theinner end of auger 40. An arm structure 82 is welded at 83 to theopposite end of the structural tube 80 and carries a bearing 84 forsupporting the auger shaft 42. The opposite end of the arm structure 82rigidly carries a U- shapcd bracket 86. The bracket 86 carries betweenthe legs of the U an upright threaded adjusting stud 87. A supportingbracket 90 projects outwardly from the threaded stud 87 and carries ajournal or bearing 91 in which the shaft 71 is journalled. The bearing91 is permitted movement up and down by means of a supporting tube 92fixed to the bearing 91 and carried on a horizontal pivot stud 93. Thebearing supported bracket 90 has upper and lower flanges which aresuitable to pass relatively freely on the threaded stud 87. A nutelement 94 welded to bracket 90 receives the stud 87 and operatesthrough turning the stud 87 to adjust vertically the entire bearingsupporting bracket 90. Viewing the entire structure as a whole, itbecomes apparent that the members 80, 82 and 90 are all rigidly joinedtogether and that raising and lowering of one of the members will raiseand lower the other of the members.

A laterally disposed tubular member extends diametrically across theupper surface of the silage and has one end connected to the outer endof the propellent shaft 72, the latter being connected to the tubularmember 100 by means of a bracket 101. A suitable journal .102 isprovided to permit the shaft 72 to rotate relative to the bracket 101.The opposite end of the tube member 100 carries surface sensing wheelwhich normally rides on the surface of the silage. Reviewing the entirestructure as a Whole, it will become apparent that the wheel 105 incombination with the drive wheel and auger 40 operates as a levellingmechanism. By way of explanation, the wheel 105 will ride over high orlevel spots causing the tubular member 100 to raise or lower. Forexample, should the wheel 105 pass over a high level of silage, thetubular member at the end of the wheel 105 will rise and the oppositeend will be caused to lower. This will cause the shaft 71 also to belowered since in effect a member 101 will cause the universal joint 73to be lowered. As the shaft 71 is lowered it will cause the rigidstructures 80, 82 and 90 to also be lowered and since the latter isconnected to the auger shaft 42, it will cause the auger 40 to dig adeeper bite in the silage. Consequently, should at any time there be atendency for the silage level to form a cone shape, i.e., either to havethe outer edge of the silage higher than the center or the center silageat a higher level than the outer edge, the wheel 105 will sense theuneven condition and will cause the auger 40 to dig deeper or shallowerdepending upon which it is desired to bring the level of the silagesubstantially to a horizontal plane.

Also, it should be recognizedthat as the auger 40 makes a deeper trough,the gage wheel 62 will cause the auger 41 to also cut deeper in thesilage. Consequently the entire level of the silage is gaged by thesensing wheel 105.

Adjacent to the chamber 16 and opening into the side discharge opening20 is an auger housing which extends from the chamber 16 outwardly andthrough one of the openings 11 in the silo wall 10. The auger housing isunique in its shape in that the width of the housing is considerablywider than the auger 111 normally mounted therein. .The auger housing110 has its intake opening adjacent the side opening 20 of the chamber1?. Reviewing FIG. 2, it becomes apparent that the auger 111 liesclosely adjacent one of the walls of the housing 110 but is spacedlaterally from the opposite upright wall. The purpose of so spacing theauger 111 is to permit silage or other materials to move from the augerbetween the wall 110 and the outer edge of the auger 111. The silagecaught between the wall and silage will be pushed along by the auger 111even, though it will not be angered. This effect is created since therewill normally be a frictional type engagement between the material beingaugered by the auger 111 and the material lying alongside the auger 111.Consequently by so disposing the auger in relation to the auger housing110, the overall capacity of the discharge auger is considerablyincreased.

Adjacent the inner end of the auger 41 is a flipper or paddle 114normally disposed beneath the under side of the impeller chamber 16. Anauger section 115 is also mounted on the shaft 46 and is of a reversedpitch than the auger 41. Consequently the material being moved inwardlyby the auger 41 will contact the flipper or paddle 114 .and will bedriven upwardly. Material will be prevented from moving further inwardof the paddle 114 by the auger flight section 115. It will be noted, inviewing FIG. 2, that the outer edge of the flipper paddle 114 will comeclosely adjacent the lower edge of the chamber 118 when it is in itsextreme upper position. Consequently the material being thrown or liftedupwardly will pass directly into the path of the impeller blades 31 tobe moved internally of the chamber 119 until passing through the opening20 and into the auger housing 110. Suitable shielding such as 116 isprovided adjacent the flipper paddle 114 so as to limit the quantity ofmaterial which may move outwardly from beneath the chamber 16.

The auger 111 is driven by means of a V-belt 117 extending over a pulley118 at the end of an anger drive shaft 119 on which is carried the augerflighting 111. The belt 117 extends over a drive pulley 120 carried onthe upper end of the main drive shaft 25. A pair of idler pulleys 121,122, accommodating the extension of the belt 117 around the corner ofthe chamber 116, is fixed to the upper surface of the chamber 16. Inthis form of the invention, therefore, it becomes apparent that theentire silo unloader is driven from the single motor 36 and directlyfromthe vertical driveshaft 25. This, therefore, provides a relativelycheap and'simple type of drive.

In the modification of the invention shown in FIGS. 7-17, the centralimpeller portion and auger discharge are substantially identical to thatof the previous form, the main distinction being that a separateelectric motor 125 is carried on the top of the auger housing 110 and isdrivingly connected to the auger shaft 119 by means of a chain andsprocket drive 126. Consequently the entire belt drive extending fromthe main shaft 25 to the auger driveshaft 119 of the previous form ofthe invention is eliminated. Since the main details of the centralimpeller section and its respective drive mechanism is identical similarreference numerals are used and further description is not deemednecessary and will not be repeated.

The supporting structure interconnecting the drive wheel with the sweepmechanism is composed of a triangularly shaped laterally disposed framestructure consisting of three rigidly interconnected tubes or pipesections 130, 131, and 132. The tubular member 133 extends outwardlyfrom the central portion of the silo to a point adjacent an outer drivewheel 138 and is relatively small so as to permit a degree of flexing inthe tube 130. The member 130 is rigidly connected to the tubular member132 by means of an angle iron steel element 133 which 6 underliesadjacent ends of the tubular members 130, 132 and is welded as at 134 tothe under side of tubular member 132. The tubular member 130 is rigidlyheld to one flange of the angle iron steel strap 133 by means of a bolt135 extending through a rigid vertical bracket136 on the end of thetubular member 130. There are a series of vertically spaced openings 137in the bracket 136 so. that the.

member 130 may be adjusted vertically relative to the other portions ofthe frame. The extreme outer end of the tubular member 132 has fixedthereto a U-shaped bracket structure 140 which carries an uprightthreaded stud 141 between the legs of the bracket 140. Mounted on thethreaded stud 141 is a driveshaft supporting bracket 142 extendingoutwardly and carrying a bearing 143 on which is mounted a wheeldriveshaft 144. The bracket; structure 142 has suitable aperturestherein to receive thev threaded stud 141 and the bracket structure 142may be adjusted vertically by adjusting a nut 145 on the stud 141. Thebearing 143 is carried on the bracket structure 142 by means of ahorizontal tube 146 adapted to pivot about the horizontal axis of apivot bolt 147. Consequently the wheel may be adjusted relative to thesupporting structure 130, 131, 132.

The tubular member 131 extends radially outwardlyfrom the center of thesilo and supports at its outer end an auger driveshaft 150, the specifictype of support beingflipper blade 155 which operates to receive thematerial from the sweep auger 154 and to flip or impel it upwardly inthe path of the impeller blades 31. The outer end of the auger shaft 150carries a wall chipper wheel 156- disposed closely proximate the Walland outward of the shaft bearing 152. The chipper wheel 156 operates tochip the silage, which might be frozen or otherwise clinging to thewall. The tubular member 131 carries also an outwardly projectingbracket structure 160 supporting a wall guide wheel 161 which engagesthe wall above the chipper wheel 156 and operates to prevent directcontact with the wall by the blades on the chipper Wheel 156.

The inner'end of the auger driveshaft 150 is drivingly connected to themain driveshaft 25 by means of bevel gears 163, 164 respectivelydisposed in a gear housing connected to the inner end of the drive wheelshaft 144 by means of an articulate connection 169.

Also drivingly connected to the main shaft 25 disposed at right anglesto the auger shaft is a second flipper driveshaft 170. A bevel gear 171is provided on the shaft 170 internally of the gear housing 165 and isdrivingly connected to the bevel gear 164 carried on the main driveshaft25. The outer end of the shaft terminates beneath the impeller chamber161 and carries at its outer end an impeller or second flipper blade172. As may more clearly be understood from viewing FIG. 13, the firstpaddle or flipper 155 and the flipper blade 172 will normally operate sothat the adjacent sides thereof move upwardly. Consequently, materialmoving inwardly by the auger 154 will pass between the blades 155 and172 which will cooperate to drive the material upwardly into the chamber16 where it will contact the impeller blades 31 in the manner previouslydescribed. In viewing the silo unloader as shown in FIG. 7, the silowill normally move in a counterclockwise direction with the wheel 138trailing relative to the sweep auger 154. It will also be noted that theauger 154 is substantially at right angles to 7 the driveshaft 144. Aswill later become apparent, it is believed that this is probably thebest angle use, although the levelling system presently to be describedcould operate from a practical standpoint at other angles. Preferablythe auger 154 should be no more than 90 in advance or in a trailingdirection to the drive wheel 138.

Fixed to the outer end of the tubular framework 131 is a rigid wheelframe 175 extending in a trailing direction relative to the member 131.The frame 175 carries the sensing or levelling wheel 176 which normallyrides over the surface of the silage. The sensing wheel 176 will operatein conjunction with the Wheel 138 and the auger 154 to maintain thesurface substantially level. For example, with the surface of the silagelevel and the center of the unloader slightly raised, the unloader couldrun but no silage would be moved. By lowering the cable in the centerthe auger 154 would be lowered. alike amount in the. center but becauseof being supported by the gage Wheel and balanced by the traction wheelthrough the tubular steel member 130, the auger would be lowered alesser amount on the outside so the machine would cut and remove silageuntil the outside is at the same level as the inside. At that point themachine is again supported by the cable and the gage wheel and no moresilage could be removed without further lowering the support cable. Theprevious explained action keeps the top of the silage in a level planebut not necessarily a horizontal plane. The maintaining of the surfaceof the silage in a horizontal plane is achieved by a combination of theabove action plus the flexing of the tubular pipe 130. This flexing iscaused by the fact that the main weight of the machine is supported bythe cable and because of the pendulum action, the main frame as Well asthe sweep, tries to maintain the level substantially horizontal, thelatter being permitted by the flexing of the pipe 130. As a furtherexample, if in FIG. 7 the traction wheel were in a low spot and thesilage adjacent the silo door at a relatively high level, the upwardflexing of the pipe 130 caused by the pendulum action of the main weightwould allow the sweepauger to remain nearly level, and being supportedat the outside end by the gage wheel, the sweep auger would haveatendency to' take a heavier than normal cut to reduce the height of thehigh spot. Likewise when the traction wheel was on the high spot thepipe 130 would flex downwardly due to the pendulum action of the weightof the machine keeping the sweep nearly level and riding on the gagewheel so as to take a lesser cut, further reducing the amount ofdiiference in the high and low levels in silage. From a theoreticalstandpoint, the closer the wheel 176 is to the drive wheel 138 and theauger 154 is to' the Wheel 138, the more effective will the levellingmechanism of the present invention operate. From a practical:standpoint, it has been found that due to balance of the entire silounloader it is better to have the auger 154' approximately 90 away fromthe drive wheel 138.

The modified form of the invention will operate in a somewhat similarmanner of the previous form other than the levelling mechanism which hasbeen set forth in detail. The auger 154 will move the silage inwardlywhereupon the flippers 155, 172 will then move the material upwardlyinto the path of the impeller blade 31. The impeller blade will drivethe material through the opening in the chamber wall 16 and into theauger housing which in turn will move the material outward of the silo.

While only one form of the invention has been shown, it should berecognized that other forms and variations will occur to those skilledin the art. Therefore, it should be understood that while the presentdisclosure was shown and described in detail for purposes of completelyand fully explaining the principles of the invention, it was not theintention to so limit or narrow the invention beyond the broad conceptsset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A silage discharge conveyor for use in a silo unloader composed of aradial sweep adapted for movement over the surface of silage in a siloand for collecting and moving silage centrally, and an impellermechanism centrally located in the silo including a chamber positionedto receive silage from the sweep and an impeller within the chamberadapted to drive material outwardly of the chamber, the silage dischargeconveyor comprising: an elongated auger trough having an intake endadjacent a side of the impeller chamber for receiving materials from theimpeller and extending outwardly therefrom to the wall of the silo, thetrough having opposite uprightly disposed sides and an undersideinterconnecting the sides, one of the uprightly disposed sides having amaterial inlet opening into the chamber for receiving material from theimpeller; an auger seated in the trough closely adjacent the undersideand one of the uprightly disposed sides and in spaced laterally offsetrelation to the other of the sides to define With the other side amaterial moving zone outside of the auger flighting.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 in which the underside beneath thezone is inclined upwardly toward and joins with said other side.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 further character'- ized by theauger trough being closed at its upper side by panel means disposed overthe auger and extending between the sides.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,866,005 7/1932Beatty 19821'3- 2,465,145 3/1949 Brainerd 198-213 2,888,253 5/1959Vandusen 214-17 GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

R. G. SHERIDAN, Assistant Examiner.

1. A SILAGE DISCHARGE CONVEYOR FOR USE IN A SILO UNLOADER COMPOSED OF ARADIAL SWEEP ADAPTED FOR MOVEMENT OVER THE SURFACE OF SILAGE IN A SILOAND FOR COLLECTING AND MOVING SILAGE CENTRALLY, AND AN IMPELLERMECHANISM CENTRALLY LOCATED IN THE SILO INCLUDING A CHAMBER POSITIONEDTO RECEIVE SILAGE FROM THE SWEEP AND AN IMPELLER WITHIN THE CHAMBERADAPTED TO DRIVE MATERIAL OUTWARDLY OF THE CHAMBER, THE SILAGE DISCHARGECONVEYOR COMPRISING: AN ELONGATED AUGER TROUGH HAVING AN INTAKE ENDADJACENT A SIDE OF THE IMPELLER CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING MATERIALS FROM THEIMPELLER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM TO THE WALL OF THE SILO, THETROUGH HAVING OPPOSITE UPRIGHTLY DISPOSED SIDES AND AN UNDERSIDEINTERCONNECTING THE SIDES, ONE OF THE UPRIGHTLY DISPOSED SIDES HAVING AMATERIAL INLET OPENING INTO THE CHAMBER FOR RECEIVING MATERIAL FROM THEIMPELLER; AN AUGER SEATED IN THE TROUGH CLOSELY ADJACENT THE UNDERSIDEAND ONE OF THE UPRIGHTLY DISPOSED SIDES AND IN SPACED LATERALLY OFFSETRELATION TO THE OTHER OF THE SIDES TO DEFINE WITH THE OTHER SIDE AMATERIAL MOVING ZONE OUTSIDE OF THE AUGER FLIGHTING.